Basic Movement Activities (Perceptual Motor Development)

BOOK 1: BASIC MOVEMENT ACTIVITIES This book is divided into 2 Parts: PART 1--PERCEPTUAL-MOTOR EVALUATION SCALE; and PART 2--BASIC LOCOMOTOR ACTIVITY SKILLS. The book consists of 28 pages and all the activities are sequenced according to difficulty.

PART 1 uses the PERCEPTUAL-MOTOR EVALUATION SCALE to determine each student's level of motor proficiency in several areas. Administered before beginning your program in motor development (such as the beginning basic program suggested in Part 2 of this book and as suggested in the rest of the 5 book series), involves a series of easily given elemental tests or tasks which require little instruction time. The test results are recorded directly on the book's "Record Sheet" that is specially designed to be duplicated as needed. The information which the "Record Sheet" provides will enable you to plan program activities, or to evaluate student progress and the effectiveness of an already existing program in motor development. The elemental tests or tasks given in the book and listed on the "Record Sheet" are: Task 1: Identify Body Parts; Task 2: Walking Board; Task 3: Hopping; Task 4: Jump and Land; Task 5: Obstacle Course; Task 6: Ball Catch; and Task 7: Optional Test.

PART 2 concentrates on the ability to transport the body through space with control and coordination which is fundamental to life itself. The movements used to transport the body from one point in space to another are called locomotor skills. Those BASIC LOCOMOTOR ACTIVITY SKILLS are: Partner Activities, General Locomotion Activities, Sliding Activities, Skipping Activities, Galloping Activities, Hopping Activities, Jumping Activities, Running Activities, Leaping Activities, and Walking Activities.

Jack Capon was known nationally and internationally for his practical application of Movement Education to the classroom environment. By means of his numerous workshops that he conducted throughout the world, Jack Capon has shown how teachers and others interested in Movement Education can start their own successful programs.

Jack Capon was active in Movement Education from the early 1960's right on up to the mid 1990's when, by an ironic twist of fate, he was forced into early retirement by the onslaught of a rare neurological disorder called Striatonigral Degeneration. In the early stages this disorder mimics the symptoms of Parkinson's disease but later on as it kills off more and more brain cells it forces its host into paraplegic-like conditions. And finally, after several years of deteriorating health, Jack passed away in the summer of 1999 soon after the publication of the newest edition of his Perceptual-Motor Lesson Plans, Level-2 book. But Jack's legacy lives on and thanks to Jack's many workshops over the years and to the continuing great success of his programs, many people have been trained in the Jack Capon method and are quite skilled in advising any of those who are interested in starting, restarting, or continuing his Movement Education programs. People who have been trained in the Jack Capon method and who are willing to offer their advice and assistance are available from the publisher, Front Row Experience. Also available from the publisher, are training videos for teachers and instructors who want to see Jack's program in action for themselves!

Jack Capon was not only a great Movement Educator, but a great human being as well, as witnessed by his 25 years of volunteering to direct the Special Olympics Program for his local town of Alameda, California. Although Jack is no longer here with his energy and enthusiasm for Movement Education, his Perceptual-Motor Development Programs lives on and continues to provide valuable help in developing the movement coordination skills necessary for the healthy development of children everywhere.

Jack Capon, by means of his numerous workshops that he conducted throughout the world, has shown how teachers and others interested in Movement Education can start their own successful programs. It's been told that the original founder of the nationwide and now worldwide chain of Gymboree fitness centers for kids got her inspiration and many of her ideas from observing Jack Capon's programs in action and in attending many of his early workshops. The fact that you can start a business using Jack Capon-like activities for kids is further testament to the obvious that his programs do work and give a valuable boost to the development of any child in the early childhood years.

Jack Capon was active in Movement Education from the early 1960's right on up to the mid 1990's when, by an ironic twist of fate, he was forced into early retirement by the onslaught of a rare neurological disorder called Striatonigral Degeneration. And finally after several years of deteriorating health, Jack passed away in the summer of 1999.

Jack Capon has authored numerous Movement Education books over the years. He has been a consultant to several films and videos on Movement Education and he has produced many record/cassette/CD albums on musical Movement Education activities. Jack Capon, who spent nearly his entire professional career as the Coordinator For Physical Education in the Alameda City School District, Alameda, California, has been appointed to many positions and given many awards and honors over the years recognizing his great achievements in Movement Education and his unselfish volunteer work in his community. From 1968 to 72 he served on the Perceptual-Motor Task Force of the American Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). He was elected National Chairman of the Elementary Physical Education section of AAHPERD in 1972. The California Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (CAHPERD) presented him with their State Honor Award in 1978. Around that time AAHPERD presented him with the City and County Director's Honor Award. In 1982 the California Association of School Administrators (ACSA) selected him as the "outstanding Administrator of the Year." He served as the volunteer Director of the Special Olympics Program for 25 years for the town of Alameda, California where he lived and worked. The local Channel 4 TV station in his area honored him in 1992 with it's annual "For Those Who Care" award. The City of Alameda, California, gave him the Citizen of the Year Award in 1993. San Jose State University's College of Applied Arts and Science, San Jose, California, gave him its Distinguished Alumni Award in 1995. Jack Capon was not only a great Movement Educator, but a great human being as well. Although Jack is no longer here with his energy and enthusiasm for Movement Education, his Perceptual-Motor Development Programs live on and continue to provide valuable help in developing the movement coordination skills necessary for the healthy development of children everywhere.